Composition and method for removing postage stamps



United States Patent Ofiice 3,062,749 Patented Nov. 6, 1962 3,062,749 COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR REMOVING POSTAGE STAMPS Robert F. Herr-ling, 1111 S. Ridge Road, Lake Forest, Ill. No Drawing. Filed Sept. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 758,546 2 Claims. ((11. 252-l70) This invention relates to compositions for loosening the adhesive bond between paper and another material to which the paper has been firmly bonded with an adhesive and the adhesive has been firmly set, and more particularly to a novel composition for readily achieving this purpose and to the method of accomplishing this purpose.

Numerous attempts have been made to provide means for removing postage stamps from envelopes without impairing the quaiity of the stamps. Various compositions have been proposed which contain solvents, wetting agents and penetrating agents for achieving this purpose. In each instance the result thas been less than satisfactory. Some of the procedures require substantial periods of time to effect the result and-give rise to deterioration of the stamps, for example folding or bleeding of colors. in some instances, solid residues are deposited on the stamps and the quality of the stamps-in the opinion of'expert stamp collectors is seriously reduced. Stamps that have the original gum on the back are frequently valued at two to three times or more over the value of the same stamps from which the original gum has been removed. A common practice is to place the paper section to which a stamp is bonded by its adhesive in a stamp lift, which is essentially a box-like enclosure in which the stamps can be exposed to a very moist atmosphere without resting in water. The time required to lift the stamp from the paper ranges from one-half hour to several days. While some of the adhesive may remain on the stamp after this procedure, there is a tendency for the colors in the stamp to fade, run or bleed during the prolonged exposure to moisture. Moreover, in many instances some of the gum is lost after this procedure. Steaming removes substantially all of the gum or adhesive.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel composition which when properly diluted with water will remove postage stamps from paper backings leaving the gum on the back of the stamps, without affecting the quality of the stamp from a philatelic standpoint.

I A further object is to provide a novel method for rapidly removing postage stamps from paper backings leaving the gum on the back of thestamp, without impairing the quality of the stamp from a philatelic standpoint.

Other objects will become apparent from the following description and examples. I

According to the present invention, generally stated, a composition for the loosening of a water-adhesive bond between postage. stamps and paper backings without impairment of the quality of the stamp from a philatelic standpoint is provided by preparing a solution of certain nonionic surface active agents in water-soluble primary lower aliphatic alcohols. The proportion'of nonionic surface active agent to alcohol is found to be quite critical. Such compositions when added in certain critical proportions to lukewarm water (approximately 80-85 F.) are useful for removing postage stamps from paper backings or for separating paper sheets that have been bonded with water-soluble. adhesives such as gums and mucilages. Such compositions are also useful when properly diluted with water for the loosening of wall paper from plaster walls or ceilings.

1e nonionic surface active agents found useful for the purposes of the present invention are those which form solutions with water-soluble primary lower aliphatic alco hols, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and isopropyl alcohol, and which alcoholic solutions are in turn soluble in water to the extent of from one to four teaspoons per quart of water. The following agents are illustrative of nonionic surface active agents that have been found suitable.

Alkyl aryl polyether alcohols such as p-isooctyl phenyl ether of polyethylene glycol containing 58.1% by weight of combined ethylene oxide (made and sold under the trade name Triton X-lOO by Rohm and Haas), and others such as Triton X-102 and Triton X-1l4.

Polyoxycthylene sorbitan monolaurate (made and sold under the trade name Tween 20 by Atlas Powder Co.).

Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monoleate (made and sold under the trade names Tween and Tween 81 by Atlas Powder Co.).

Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate (Tween 40').

Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, (Tween 60 and Tween 61).

Polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate (Tween 65) and polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate (Tween 85).

Aromatic polyglycol ether condensate made and sold under the trade name Neutronyx 600 by Onyx Oil and Chemical Co.).

Polyoxyethylene thioethers made and sold under the trade names Sterox SE and Sterox SK by Monsanto Chemical Company.

Alkyl phenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol made and sold under the trade name Igepal CA-630 by Antara Chemicals Div. of General Dyestuff Corp.

inasmuch as the value of certain postage stamps to a phiiatelist may be very great, and the value of such stamps depend upon the care and handling involved, it becomes of substantial importance to avoid any treatment of a valuable stamp that will impair its value to a collector. Care must be taken that the stamp does not shrink or become elongated when removed from a paper backing. The colors must not be impaired and the paper backing must not exfoliate or delaminate. The original adhesive must remain intact on the stamp. It has been found that the proportions of components in the novel composition of this invention are quite critical. For example, the ratio of nonionic surface active agent to alcohol must be in the range of 3 to 4 parts by volume of surface active agent to 1 part of alcohol. During use, this composition must be diluted with luke warm water (approximately 75-90 F.) in the ratio of 1 to 3 parts by volume of the composition to 192 parts by volume of water. Ultimate concentrations below this range give rise to difficulty in removing the stamps from the paper backings and concomitant stretching and damage to the stamp, as well as loss of a portion of the .adhesive. Concentrations above this range give rise to exfoliation or delamination of the paper backing, resulting in a defective removal of the backing and the likelihood of damage to the stamp when efforts are made to remove the residues of paper fiber therefrom. In the interest of achieving the very best results, the preferred proportion is 1 part of the composition to 192 parts of water. If the water employed is quite hard, a few more drops of the composition may be added. The proportions of surface active agent to alcohol are also critical. Below the ratio of 3 parts of surfaceactive agent to 1 part of alcohol, the action of the composition when diluted to 1 part of composition by volume to 192 parts of water is for too slow. Above the ratio of 4 parts of surface active agent to l partby volume of alcohol, the action is exceedingly fast but there is a tendency for the removed stamp to have an oily feeling, which is undesirable. The best results are achieved when the ratio of surface active agent to alcohol is 3 to 1.

s eaves The composition of the present invention is used in the following manner. One teaspoonful /6 fl. oz.) of the concentrate is dissolved in one quart (32 fl. oz.) of luke warm water (75-90 F.). If the stamps to be removed are on white paper or cardboard backing, the entire stamp may be immersed in the solution. In approximately 20 seconds, the stamps are loosened and can be separated from the backing without injury to the stamps. The immersion procedure does not retain the adhesive on the stamp but is useful when it is desired to remove large numbers of stamps from backings in a short period of time. If the stamps are on colored backings, the solution may be applied with a gentle patting action to the face of the stamp, for example with a small sponge, and the stamp will be loosened in approximately 20 seconds and can be easily lifted off of the paper backing. The stamps are then rinsed in clean water and dried. When it is desired to preserve the gum or adhesive on the stamp (for example an unused stamp), the solution is gently patted on the paper backing (not on the stamp itself). After the solution has soaked through, the stamp may be lifted gently from the backing with gum intact. Soiled stamps may be cleaned by patting the stamp gently with a small sponge that has been immersed in the solution. Care should be taken not to rub the stamp. Stamps removed by the procedures described retain .the fresh appearance that prolonged soaking destroys.

Increasing the quantity of the composition of this invention in the aqueous solution from one teaspoonful of the composition per quart of water at 90 F. to two teaspoonfuls reduces the time for immersion to loosen the stamp from approximately 20 seconds to approximately 10 seconds, and the time for loosening the stamp by patting the solution on the backing from approximately seconds to approximately 15 seconds. Further increase to 3 teaspoonfuls reduces the time for immersion to approximately 5 seconds and the time for loosening the stamp by patting on the backing to approximately 10 seconds. A comparison test with water alone at 90 F. required over 5 minutes to loosen the stamp by immersion and over 10 minutes to loosen the stamp by patting the water on the backing. The stamps treated with water alone were inferior in quality to similar stamps removed with the composition of this invention by the procedures described herein.

Formulae which have proved to be satisfactory for the removal of stamps from paper backings are as follows. In each instance, from one to three teaspoonfuls of the composition shown are dissolved in one quart of water at a temperature in the range of 7590 F. (yielding a ratio of one part of the composition per 192 parts of water).

Example I Parts by volume p-Isooctyl phenyl ether of polyethylene glycol (Triton Isopropyl alcohol 1 4 Example V Parts by volume Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate (Tween 4 Isopropyl alcohol 1 Example VI p-Isooctyl phenyl ether of polyethylene glycol (Triton X-lOO) 3 Methyl alcohol 1 Example VII Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate (Tween 3 Isopropyl alcohol 1 Example Vlll Aromatic polyglycol ether condensate (Neutronyx 600) 3 Isopropyl alcohol 1 Example IX Polyoxyethylene thioether (Sterox SE) 3 Isopropyl alcohol 1 Example X Alkyl phenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol (lgepal CA- 630) 3 Isopropyl alcohol 1 Others may practice the invention in any of the numerous ways which will be suggested to one skilled in the art upon a reading of this specification. It is intended that all such practice of the invention be included hereunder, provided it falls within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A solution for the treatment of postage stamps on paper backings to remove the postage stamps without impairment of the quality of the stamps consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of a composition composed of 34 parts by volume of p-isooctyl phenyl ether of polyethylene glycol and one part by volume of isopropyl alcohol, said composition being present in said aqueous solution in the proportion of 1-3 parts by volume of said composition to 192 parts by volume of water, said solution at a temperature in the range of -90 F. when sparsely applied to the paper backing being capable of retaining the adhesive on the stamp when the backing is removed.

2. A method of removing postage stamps from paper backings with retention of the adhesive on the stamp and without impairment of the quality of the stamp consisting of applying sparsely to the back side of the paper backing an aqueous solution of a composition composed of 34 parts by volume of p-isooctyl phenyl ether of polyethylene glycol and one part by volume of isopropyl alcohol, said composition being present in said aqueous solution in the proportion of 1-3 parts by volume of said composition to 192 parts by volume of water, and said solution being at a temperature in the range of 75-90 F.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,970,578 Schoeller et al Aug. 21, 1934 2,067,327 Leatherman Jan. 12, 1937 2,317,505 Wassell Apr. 27, 1943 2,356,254 Lehmann Aug. 22, 1944 2,831,315 Klisch Apr. 22, I958 FOREIGN PATENTS 697,315 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1953 

1. A SOLUTION FOR THE TREATMENT OF POSTAGE STAMPS ON PAPER BACKINGS TO REMOVE THE POSTAGE STAMPS WITHOUT IMPAIRMENT OF THE QUANTITY OF THE STAMPS CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF A COMPOSITION COMPOSED OF 3-4 PARTS BY VOLUME OF P-ISOOCTYL PHENYL ETHER OF POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL AND ONE PART BY VOLUME OF ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, SAID COMPOSITION BEING PRESENT IN SAID AQUEOUS SOLUTION IN THE PROPORTION OF 1-3 PARTS BY VOLUME OF SAID COMPOSITION TO 192 PARTS BY VOLUME OF WATER, SAID SOLUTION AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF 75-90*F. WHEN SPARSELY APPLIED TO THE PAPER BACKING BEING CAPABLE OF RETAINING THE ADHESIVE ON THE STAMP WHEN THE BACKING IS REMOVED. 